Detergent composition containing a mixture of vinyl,vinylidene and internal olefin sulfonates

ABSTRACT

IT IS DISCLOSED THAT OLEFIN SULFONATES OBTAINED BY SAPONIFYING THE REACTION PRODUCT OF SO3 AND OLEFINS HAVING FROM ABOUT 12 TO ABOUT 16 CARBON ATOMS PER MOLECULE AND AVERAGING ABOUT 14.1 TO ABOUT 15.9 CARBON ATOMS PER MOLECULE PROVIDE EXCELLENT HARD WATER DETERGENT MA: TERIALS WHEN THE OLEFINS ARE PREDOMINANTLY UNBRANCHED ACYCLIC TERMINAL MONOOLEFINS IN ADMIXTURE WITH FROM   ABOUT 3 TO ABOUT 30 MOL PERCENT OF BETA-BRANCHED TERMINAL OLEFINS AND FROM ABOUT 3 TO ABOUT 12 MOL PERCENT OF INTERNAL OLEFINS. PREFERRED OLEFIN SULFONATES ARE THE SODIUM AND POTASSIUM SALTS OF ALKENE SULFONIC ACIDS AND OF HYDROXY ALKANE SULFONIC ACIDS.

Apnl 30, 1974 w. J. DEWlTT E' AL 3,808,157

DETERGENT COMPOSITION CONTAINING A MIXTURE OF VINYL, VINYLIDENE AND INTERNAL OLEFIN SULFONATES Filed Aug. 7, 1972 CLEAR POlNT "C (l SOLUTION) c o 25 5o 75 I00 c WEIGHT COMPOSITION OF 05 FIG. 2

United States Patent O Int. Cl. Clld N12 US. Cl. 252-555 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE It is disclosed that olefin sulfonates obtained by saponifying the reaction product of S and olefins having from about 12 to about 16 carbon atoms per molecule and averaging about 14.1 to about 15.9 carbon atoms per molecule provide excellent hard water detergent materials when the olefins are predominantly unbranched acyclic terminal monoolefins in admixture with from about 3 to about 30 mol percent of beta-branched terminal olefins and from about 3 to about 12 mol percent of internal olefins. Preferred olefin sulfonates are the sodium and potassium salts of alkene sulfonic acids and of hydroxy alkane sulfonic acids.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of prior application Ser. No. 45,151, filed June 10, 1970.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The invention relates to olefin sulfonates and in particular to synergistic compositions based upon mixtures of olefins of selected molecular weights and selected carbon structural molecular configurations. Preferred olefin sulfonates have useful properties as detergents for washing fabrics, skin, etc. either in the form as produced or in admixture with other detergent actives and adjuvants, and as liquid, powder, flakes, bars, pastes and the like.

Description of the prior art Alpha olefin sulfonates are well known in the prior art as being readily produced by the reaction of alpha olefins with S0 or with compounds or complexes containing or yielding S0 Of particular interest is the reaction with uncomplexed S0 The reaction is followed by a saponification with a caustic or alkaline substance such as a hydroxide, oxide or carbonate of the alkali or alkaline earth metals, such as NaOH and KOH, to produce water soluble metal salts. These products have useful properties for various washing purposes such as cleansing fabrics, skin and dishes. The carbon skeletal structures of the sulfonates are basically isomeric unsaturated and hydroxy saturated isomers having carbon skeletons similar to the starting olefins. Typically,

RCH cH CH CH CH reacted with S0 produces predominantly compounds of the formulas:

3,808,157 Patented Apr. 30, 1974 ice The prior art teaches generally that such sulfonates can be produced on a basis of olefins of various carbon skeletal configurations having 10 to 24, more or less, carbon atoms per molecule. For the most part, the prior art preference is for the use of olefins having a single molecular structural configuration, particularly straight chain olefins of the alpha type and for olefins that have 16 or more, preferably 18 or more, carbon atoms per molecule. Thus in the prior art, -R of the foregoing formulae is generally a straight chain saturated alkyl group having 5 to 19, more or less, carbon atoms, particularly 11 or more, preferably 13. In some instances olefins have been used that were different from such straight chain olefins. The plurally branched propylene tetramer, for example, has been mentioned. Internal olefins and vinylidene olefins, individually, have been mentioned in a. general way but for the most part there is no teaching of synergism in sulfonate mixtures based on mixed olefins.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides synergistic compositions of olefin sulfonates of certain mixed structures and of a specific narrow range of molecular weights, otherwise expressed as number of carbon atoms per molecule which have excellent detergent properties, particularly as regards solubility and cleaning ability even in hard water. The materials are useful for washing porous materials such as fabrics; surfaces of living organisms, typically the skin and hair of human beings or lower animals; and for washing materials having hard, comparatively impervious, surfaces such as sheet metal or plastics in various forms including but not limited to dishes and silverware. The materials are useful at intermediate temperatures, at low temperatures such as 20-30 C., as well as at hot Water temperatures, typically to C. or higher, and at atmospheric pressure or higher or lower pressures. Utility under such a wide variety of conditions permits a single composition to be used for most if not all cleaning applications for an entire family or business establishment, for example. Although the preferred sulfonate compositions may be obtained by sulfonating pure individual olefins and blending the sulfonate derivatives in the proper proportions to produce the compositions claimed herein, it is preferred to sulfonate mixtures of olefins which correspond to the sulfonate mixtures. Preferred olefin mixtures correspond substantially to the sulfonates on molecular weight and carbon chain structure distribution bases. Such olefin mixtures are particularly desirable and have substantial utility to produce the sulfonates.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a ternary diagram showing the properties of various olefin sulfonate compositions. Equal-eifectiveness lines for various compositions are shown based on comparison with a standard detergent system.

FIG. 2 shows the clear point (temperature) for olefin sulfonate compositions that are predominantly C and C mixtures. The clear point is the temperature below which cloudiness develops. A low clear point is desired by the housewife to provide clear dishwashing solutions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In accordance with the present invention, olefin sulfonates are provided which are based on the saponified products of sulfonation of monoolefin mixtures having from about 12 to about 16 carbon atoms per molecule and averaging from about 14.1 to about 15.9 carbon atoms per molecule. A narrower preferred range is based on the saponified product of the sulfonation of mixtures of monoolefins having 14 to 16 carbon atoms per molecule wherein the weight ratio of C to C olefins present is from about 5.7/1 to about 1/2, preferably from about 4/ 1 to about 3/ 2, particularly from about 3.5/ 1 to about 2/1. Preferred olefins range from about 60 to about 90 mol percent vinyl, from about 3 to about 30 mol percent vinylidene and from about 3 to about 12 mol percent internal olefins. The olefins used in the sulfonation may include C C C C C or mixtures provided that the mixtures meet the foregoing requirements. Of these, preferred olefins are those containing an even number of carbon atoms per molecule.

Typical C ole-fins are of 99 percent (by weight) C purity as measured by V.P.C., the balance being mostly traces of C and C These olefins analyzed by NMR (mol percent basis) are 93.0 vinyl, 3.7 vinylidene and 3.3 internal.

Typical C olefins are of 98.7 percent (by weight) C purity as measured by V.P.C., the balance being about 0.6 percent C and about 0.7 percent C NMR analysis is 85.5 percent (molar) vinyl, 8.4 percent vinylidene and 6.1 percent internal. Paraffin content is 0.3 percent by weight.

Typical C olefins are of 96 percent (by weight) C purity, with about 3.0 percent C and about 1 percent C NMR analysis is 63.0 percent (molar) vinyl, 27.2 percent vinylidene and 9. 8 percent internal.

Such olefins are preferably produced by chain growth with ethylene on triethyl aluminum.

Typical olefin mixtures useful in accordance with the present invention are characterized in two fundamental aspects; viz, (1) molecular weight and (2) carbon skeletal structure. Broad and preferred ranges exist in regard to each aspect individually and in the various possible combinations of the two aspects.

Typical olefin mixtures useful for sulfonation and saponification to produce derivatives as recited herein have components defined on a molecular weight basis as having from about 12 to about 16 carbon atoms per molecule, averaging from about 14.1 to about 15.9 carbon atoms per molecule. The weight ratio of C to C olefins in the mixture is from about 5.7/1 to about 1/2. A narrower range more preferred is from about 4/1 to about 3/ 2 with from about 3.5/1 to about 2/ 1 being even more preferred.

Typical olefin mixtures useful for sulfonation and bydrolysis to produce derivatives as recited herein have components defined on a carbon skeleton structure basis as consisting essentially of from about 60 to about 90 mol percent vinyl olefins, from about 3 to about 30 mol percent vinylidene olefins and from about 3 to about 12 mol percent internal olefins. In most instances the olefins of different molecular weights in a given mixture have different distributions in regard to carbon skeleton structure but are within the ranges recited.

Typical preferred olefin mixtures have from about 12 to about 16 carbon atoms per molecule, average from about 14.1 to about 15.9 carbon atoms per molecule and have a weight ratio C14/C16 of about 5.7/1 to 1/2 and consists essentially of from about 60 to about 90 mol percent vinyl olefins, from about 3 to about 30 mol percent vinylidene olefins and from about 3 to about 12 mol percent internal olefins.

Typical preferred olefin mixtures have from about 12 to about 16 carbon atoms per molecule, average from about 14.1 to about .9 carbon atoms per molecule, have a weight ratio of C /C of from about 3.5/1 to about 2/1 and consist essentially of from about 60 to about 90 mol percent vinyl olefins, from about 3 to about 30 mol percent vinylidene olefins and from about 3 to about 12 mol percent internal olefins.

Typical preferred olefin mixtures have a weight ratio C /C of about 3.5/1 to 2/1 wherein the C olefins are from about to about mol percent vinyl olefins, from about 5 to about 12 mol percent vinylidene olefins and from about 5 to about 12 mol percent internal olefins and wherein the C olefins are from about 60 to about 70 mol percent vinyl olefins, from about 20 to about 30 mol percent vinylidene olefins and from about 5 to about 12 mol percent internal olefins.

When such mixtures of olefins are reacted with S0 and saponified with NaOH, for example, the products are principally isomeric spectra of alkene sulfonic acid sodium salts, hydroxy alkane sulfonic acid sodium salts, alkene disulfonic acid disodium salts and hydroxy alkane disulfonic acid disodium salts. Similarly, where the saponification is with caustic potash the products are potassium salts of these acids. These compounds are termed olefin sulfonates. They are exemplified (as sodium salts) by the basic formulas:

where R, R' and R" are H or alkyl (C H and wherein the total number of carbon atoms in R, R and R" is predominantly 7, 9 and 11.

Additional components which may be present in trace amounts include trisulfonates and higher order sulfonates.

The ratios of the various sulfonates of these categories normally present on a weight basis in the products of this invention are from about 30 to about 70 percent of alkene sulfonates, from about 20 to about 70 percent of hydroxy alkane sulfonates, from about 2 percent to about 15 percent of the disulfonatcs, and about 1 percent or less of trisulfonates, etc., such polysulfonates containing approximately equal amounts of alkene and hydroxy alkane compounds.

The foregoing sulfonate compounds are believed to be the result of the formation and cleavage of sultone intermediates. Such sultone intermediates form preferentially as rings with a specific number of atoms per ring, typically 5. Rings of other numbers of atoms such as 4 and 6 are formed generally in lesser proportions. On hydrolysis the sultones open to provide the alkene sulfonates and hydroxy alkane sulfonates where the location of the unsaturation and hydroxyl groups depend to a large extent upon the number of atoms in the rings of the intermediate sultones.'Some further ramification of the distribution of the various forms arises through isomerization. Thus, it is characteristic of the alkene sulfonates that they have predominantly 2-3 unsaturation (30-70 percent) with some 1-2 unsaturation (10-25 percent), some 3-4 unsaturation (5-25 percent), some 4-5 unsaturation (5- 10 percent) and so on. Similarly, it is characteristic of the hydroxy alkane sulfonates that they are predominantly 3-hydroxy compounds (about 50-70 percent) with lesser amounts of 2-hydroxy, 4-hydroxy and S-hydroxy compounds. The disulfonates, trisulfonates may be regarded as the result of the reaction of additional molecules of S0 with the double bond of an alkene sulfonate precursor and hence involve further ramifications as several spectra based on the spectra of alkene sulfonates.

It is evident that the hydrocarbon structure of the various compounds exemplified are principally constituted by a ramified substituent containing portion or radical having about 5 carbon atoms connected to a long unsubstituted hydrocarbon radical. In general, the length variation of the unsubstituted radical is small over the range of 12-16 total carbon atoms per molecule, thus it is not essential that the relative proportions of vinyl, vinylidene and internal olefin structures be the same for all starting olefins or the resultant products. Although such similarity of distributions for the various molecular weights is preferred in some instances, it is preferred in some instances that there be a higher percentage of non-vinyl molecular structures in the C starting olefins than in the C starting olefins thereby maintaining a greater degree of similarity in the number of carbon atoms in the long unsubstituted hydrocarbon radical.

Examples of typical compounds in the mixtures described herein include the following.

tetradec-l,2-ene-1-sulfonic acid sodium salt hexadec-l,2-ene-l-sulfonic acid potassium salt dodec-1,2-ene-1-sulfonic acid sodium salt tetradec-2,3-ene-1-sulfonic acid sodium salt hexadec-2,3-ene-l-sulfonic acid sodium salt tetradec-3,4-ene-l-sulfonic acid potassium salt hexadec-3,4-ene-1-sulfonic acid sodium salt dodec-3,4-ene-1-sulfonic acid sodium salt tetradec-4,5-ene-l-sulfonic acid sodium salt hexadec-4,5-ene-l-sulfonic acid sodium salt 2-ethyl-dodec-1,2-ene-1-sulfonic acid sodium salt 2-butyl-decyl-1,2-ene-1-sulfonic acid sodium salt 2-hexyl-oct-1,2-ene-l-sulfonic acid potassium salt 2-ethyl-tetradec-1,2-ene-1-sulfonic acid sodium salt Z-butyI-dodec-1,2-ene-1-sulfonic acid sodium salt 2-hexyl-dec-1,2-ene-l-sulfonic acid sodium salt tetradec-3,4-ene-3-sulfonic acid sodium salt hexadec-3,4-ene-3-sulfonic acid sodium salt tetradec-6,7-ene-6-sulfonic acid sodium salt hexadec-6,7-ene-6-sulfonic acid potassium salt 4-ethyl-dodec-3,4-ene-3-sulfonic acid sodium salt 4-ethyl-tetradec-3,4-ene-3-sulfonic acid sodium salt undec-7,8-ene-5-(1-ethyl methylene sulfonic acid potassium salt) tridec-7,8-ene-5-(1-ethyl methylene sulfonic acid sodium salt) tetradec-3,4-ene-1,2-disulfonic acid-disodium salt hexadec-3,4-ene-1,2-disulfonic acid-disodium salt undec-6,7-ene-5-sodium sulfonate-5-(1'-ethyl-methylene potassium sulfonate) tridec-6,7-ene-5-sodium sulfonate-S-(1'-ethyl-methylene sodium sulfonate) tetradec-4,5-ene-1,2 disulfonic acid-disodium salt.

Examples of other typical compounds in the mixtures described herein include the following.

ttradec-Z-ol-l-sulfonic acid sodium salt hexadec-2-ol-1-sulfonic acid sodium salt tetradec-3-ol-l-sulfonic acid sodium salt hexadec-3-ol-1-sulfonic' acid sodium salt tetradec-4-ol-1-sulfonic acid potassium salt hexadec-4-ol-1-sulfonic acid sodium salt tetradec-S-ol-l-sulfonic acid sodium salt hexadec-S-ol-l-sulfonic acid sodium salt 2-ethyl-dodec-2-ol-l-sulfonic acid sodium salt 2-butyl-decyl-3-ol-l-sulfonic acid sodium salt 2-hexyl-oct-4-ol-l-sulfonic acid potassium salt *2-ethyl-tetradec-3-ol-l-sulfonic acid sodium salt 2-butyl-dodec-2-ol-l-sulfonic acid sodium salt 2-hexyl-dec-3-ol-l-sulfonic acid sodium salt tetradec-4-ol-3-sulfonic acid sodium salt hexadec-5-ol-3-sulfonic acid sodium salt tetradec-7-ol-6-sulfonic acid sodium salt hexadec-7-ol-6-sulfonic acid potassium salt 4-ethyl-dodec-4-ol-3-sulfonic acid sodium salt 4-ethyl-tetradec-4ol-3-sulfonic acid sodium salt undec-8-ol-5-(1'-ethyl methylene sulfonic acid sodium salt) tridec-8-ol-5-(1'-ethyl methylene sulfonic acid sodium salt) tetradec-4-ol-1,2-disulfonic acid-disodium salt hexadec-4-ol-1,2-disulfonic acid-disodium salt undec-7-ol-5-sodium sulfonate-5-(1'-ethyl methylene sodium sulfonate) tridec-7-ol-5-sodium sulfonate-S-(1'-ethyl methylene sodium sulfonate) tetradec-S-ol-1,2-disulfonic acid-dipotassium salt.

The sulfonate compositions are useful as detergents per se and in combination with other detergent active compounds, builders and adjuvant compounds. These materials are well known in the art.

Other actives useful in conjunction with the present compositions include anionic, nonionic, ampholytic and zwitter-ionic synthetic detergents individually and in various combination. Typical other actives include alkali metal and ammonium salts of higher fatty acids, alcohol sulfates, linear alkyl sulfonates, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and ammonium alkaryl sulfonates and fatty alcohol alkoxy sulfates. Typical specific compositions include sodiumdodecylbenzenesulfonate, sodium xylene sulfonate, sodiurnnonylphenol ether sulfate (40 percent ethylene oxide).

Builders are ordinarily used such as water soluble inorganic alkaline builder salts, water soluble organic alkaline builder salts, and mixtures thereof. The proportions of builders to such sulfonate compounds generally range from about 10:1 to about 1:10 by weight, with about 5:1 to about 1:2 being preferred.

Typical builders for use with olefin sulfonates are well known as, for example, set forth in US. Pat. 3,332,880. They include ammonium or alkali metal borates, carbonates, and phosphates; ammonia or alkali metal polycarboxylates, alkali metal polyphosphonates. Typical builders are sodium tripolyphosphonate, tri-sodium nitrilotriacetate, potassium ethane-l-hydroxy-l,1-diphos phonate.

The following examples indicate preferred embodiments of the present invention.

EXAMPLE I An olefin mixture was sulfonated, the product saponified and tested for washing properties.

The starting olefins had the following weight percent distribution by carbon atoms per molecule using vapor phase chromatography (V.P.C.).

C 0.4 C 66.2 C 33.4

Vinyl olefins 79.2 Vinylidene olefins 12.5 Internal olefins 8.2

Paraflin contained in the olefins was 0.3 percent by weight.

The mixed olefins were reacted in a laboratory falling film sulfonation reactor system similar to that described in Soap and Chemical Specialty, 43, 122 (May 1967) using an SO /olefin molar ratio of 1.075. The reactor was a jacketed tube of 5 mm. internal diameter and 75 cm. length. S0 and nitrogen (2.5 mol percent S0 were fed as a gaseous phase at the top. The olefin was also fed at the top and in a liquid phase. The reactor temperature was 32-35 C. The olefin feed rate was 17.6 grams per hour per millimeter of internal periphery of the vertically disposed tubluar reactor.

The saponification number of the sulfonation efiluent was 204 mg. KOH per gram. The free oil content was 2.3 wt. percent.

The sulfonation effluent was saponified by reaction at reflux for 8 hours with 1 normal NaOH solution fed at 50-60 C. The NaOH was used in about 25 percent excess above stoichiometric. After saponification, residual oil phase material was removed, then the mixture was cooled and back titrated to neutrality with 1 normal H 50 to form product olefin sulfonates. The Klett color of the sodium salts was measured by Klett-Summerson photoelectric colorimeter (Model 900-3) using a 5 wt. percent aqueous solution. This measurement technique is discussed in US. Pat. 2,193,437. The Klett color was 123.

The olefin sulfonate was tested in the pure form and in various formulations using a Dishwashing Test (J.A.O.C.S., 43, 576 (1966)) to achieve a standard performance evaluation. This performance was compared to that of a representative standard washing preparation similar to commercial light duty dishwashing concentrates containing 60 percent LAS (linear alkyl benzene sulfonate, ultrawet K), 30 percent AES (alcohol ethoxy sulfate, Steol 4N) and 10 percent LDEA (lauryl diethanol amide, Ninol AA62 extra). Tests were with water of 50-150 p.p.m. hardness at a temperature of 49 C. using active concentration of 0.045 wt. percent.

Individual tests gave excellent results of about 68 percent comparative effectiveness relative to the standard in water of 50 parts per million hardness and about 75 percent comparative eifectiveness in water of 150 parts per million hardness.

The olefin sulfonates (sodium salts) were formulated with a monoethanol amide (Stephan LMMEA) in a ratio of about 4 parts by weight of olefin sulfonates and 1 part of amide. With water of 150 parts per million hardness, the comparative effectiveness was better than the standard, about 113 percent of the standard.

The clear point of the unformulated olefin sulfonates was determined by making a standard aqueous solution containing 1 percent by weight of the olefin sulfonates at a temperature of about 40 C. The solution was clear at this temperature. The temperature was then lowered until the solution became cloudy and subsequently raised to a temperature at which the solution turned clear. The latter transition is the clear point. The clear point was 26.5 C.

Other formulations were made using the 2/1 C /C olefin sulfonates produced in this example. Compositions of 42 percent solids were made to resemble ordinary commercial liquid dishwashing detergent concentrates.

Formulation,

composition weight percent C 1.1/ 5 olefin sulionates 27. 0 17. 0 Ammonium alkyl ether sulfate 0. O 10. 0 Monoethanol amide (Stephan LMMEA) 8. 0 8. 0 Sodium toluene sulfate 7. 0 7. 0 Ethanol 8. 0 8. 0 Wat 50. 0 50. 0

Total 100. O 100. 0

Clear point, C 7. 5 9. 8

The ammonium alkyl ether sulfate was based on C C C alcohols in about 53/ 39/5.4 weight percent proportions as measured by V.P.C. The alcohols were ethoxylated with 3 mols of ethylene oxide per mol of alcohol. The ethoxylated alcohols were sulfated with sulfamic acid.

The concentrates A and B were tested according to the standard Dishwashing Test in water of 50, 150 and 300 p.p.m. hardness and in concentrate proportions in aqueous washing solution of 0.15 weight percent. The performance of these formulations A and B was superior in every instance in comparison to the representative standard washing preparation used for the comparative tests.

EXAMPLE II Example I is repeated using KOH for saponification. Similar results are obtained.

EXAMPLE III Example I is repeated using other various olefin mixtures having from about 12 to about 16 carbon atoms per molecule, averaging from about 14.1 to about 15.9 carbon atoms per molecule wherein the weight ratio of C olefins to C olefins is from about 4/1 to about 3/2, said olefins being further characterized as consisting essentially of from about 60 to about 90 mol percent vinyl olefins, from about 3 to about 30 mol percent vinylidene olefins and from about 3 to about 12 mol percent internal olefins.

Included in this example is a series of experiments wherein the olefins are characterized as consisting essentially of olefins having 14 and 16 carbon atoms per molecule and averaging from about 14.1 to about 15.9 carbon atoms per molecule wherein the weight ratio of C olefins to C olefins is from about 3.5/1 to about 2/ 1, said olefins having 14 carbon atoms per molecule being further characterized as consisting essentially of from about to about mol percent vinyl olefins, from about 5 to about 12 mol percent vinylidene olefins and from about 5 to about 12 mol percent internal olefins, said olefins having 16 carbon atoms per molecule being further characterized as consisting essentially of from about 60 to about 70 mol percent vinyl olefins, from about 20 to about 30 mol percent vinylidene olefins and from about 5 to about 12 mol percent internal olefins.

The sulfonation efiluent is saponified and neutralized as in Example I to produce water soluble salts of alkene sulfonic acids, hydroxy alkane sulfonic acids and similar di-, triand higher-sulfonic acids. These olefin sulfonates are tested as in Example I providing desirable results.

EXAMPLE IV Example I was repeated using mixed structure predominantly C olefins of the following composition (weight percent by V.P.C.).

C Trace C 99.0 C Trace Parafiin was a trace of about 0.3 percent. The structure of the olefins (mol percent by NMR) was:

Vinyl olefins 93.0 Vinylidene olefins 3.7 Internal olefins 3.3

9 EXAMPLE v Example IV was repeated using mixed structure predominantly C olefins of the following composition (weight percent by V.P.C.).

C 1.3 C 98.0 C 0.7

Parafiin content was a trace of about 0.3 percent. The structure of the olefins (mol percent by NMR) was:

Vinyl olefins 82.0 Vinylidene olefins 10.9 Internal olefins 7.1

Example IV was repeated using mixed structure predominantly C olefins of the following composition (weight percent by V.P.C.).

Parafiin was a trace of about 0.3 wt. percent. The structure of the olefins (mol percent by NMR) was:

Vinyl olefins 63.0 Vinylidene olefins 27.2 Internal olefins 9. 8

Sulfonation conditions were similar to those for Example IV except that the olefin feed rate was 32 grams per hour per peripheral millimeter of the reactor.

The sulfonation elfiuent was saponified, deoiled and neutralized to produce olefin sulfonates which were blended with the olefin sulfonates of Examples IV and V in various proportions in the neat form and in formulations with other actives and adjuvants present to provide comparative performance data using the Dishwashing Test (J.A.O.C.S., 43, 576 (1966)).

Data for typical formulations of the present olefin sulfonates with a monoethanol amide (LMMEA manufactured by Stephan Chemical Company) are presented in FIG. 1 which is a ternary diagram for various proportions of C C and C olefin sulfonates. The olefin sulfonate/amide ratio was 4/1 on a weight basis. The water hardness was 150 parts per million, the washing temperature was 49 C., the concentration of the actives in the washing solution was 0.045 percent by weight.

The comparison standard (100 percent performance) was a reference solution containing on a weight percent basis 60 percent LAS (linear alkyl benzene sulfate) (ultrawet K), 30 percent AES (alcohol ethoxy sulfate) (Steol 4N) and percent LDEA (lauryl diethanol amide) (Ninol AA62 extra). The active concentration, water hardness and temperature were the same as with the present olefin sulfonate/monoethanol amide formulation.

The data plotted in FIG. 1 show that the present 10- C /C olefin sulfonates with little or no C have excellent properties.

Blends of C and C olefin sulfonates. of Example V and of this example were made in various proportions to determine the clear point of a 1 percent solution (by weight in water). The transition temperature between clear and cloudy was noted and plotted in FIG. 2 for various proportions of C and C olefin sulfonates. Clear points below about 29 C. are preferred corresponding to C /C olefin ratios of from about 5.7/1 to about 1/2. More preferred are the solutions with clear points below about 28 C. corresponding to 0 /0 olefin ratios of from about 4/1 to about 3/2. Even more preferred are the systems with clear points below about 27 C. corresponding to C /C olefin ratios of from about 3.5/1 to about 2/1. Data used in preparing the table of FIG. 2 are tabulated. For convenience, the weight ratio of sulfonate mixtures are used; however, this corresponds substantially to the ratios of C /C starting olefins.

Weight ratio of C sulfonates of Example V/ C sulfonates of Example VI: Clear point, C.

EXAMPLE VII Example V was repeated in several series of experiments where the mol percentage of S0 in the SO -N sulfonation feed covered the range from about 2 to about 6, where the olefin feed rate covered the range from 17.6.

to 32 grams per hour per peripheral millimeter of the reactor, where the S0 rate covered the range from 1.47 to 2.26 moles per hour, where reactor temperatures covered the range from 3040 C., and where the mol ratio of 50;, to olefin covered the range down to about 0.95.

Increasing the ratio of to olefin reduced the free oil content of the sulfonation eflluent and increased the color of the olefin sulfonates when measured as a 5 percent aqueous solution of the soluble salts after saponification and neutralization (Klett-Summerson Test).

Increasing the concentration of S0 in the nitrogen carrier gas (at a fixed SO olefin ratio) increased the conversion of the olefin in the sulfonation reaction but in a lower proportion than the color increase of the product olefin sulfonates.

Within limits, olefin conversion in the sulfonation reaction is inversely proportional to the olefin feed rate. Typically, etficient conversion occurs at 17-18 gms./hr./ peripheral circumferal mm. of the reactor.

The relationship between color of the product olefin sulfonates and olefin conversion is nearly linear below 96 percent conversion. Above this level, color develop ment increases sharply.

EXAMPLE VIII The foregoing experiments are repeated with other sulfonation systems and conditions, including pot type reactors, sprayed chamber reactors, and the like, using saponification under various conditions of temperature and with various arrangements for immediate and delayed neutralization or hydrolysis of the sulfonation effluent as a separate step before complete saponification and using various proportions of caustic or alkaline substance rang ing from about stoichiometric (1:1) based on the number of moles of sulfonic acid radicals or precursors pres ent in the sulfonation elfiuent to about a 50 percent excess of mols of caustic or alkaline substance.

What is claimed is:

1. A composition of matter consisting essentially of the water soluble alkali or alkaline earth metal salts produced by saponifying with an alkali or alkaline earth metal hydroxide, oxide or carbonate the product of the reaction of uncomplexed S with olefins having ,from about .12 to about 16 carbon atoms per molecule and averaging from about 14.1 to about 15.9 carbon atoms per molecule wherein the weight ratio of C olefins to C olefins is from about 5.7/1 to about 1/2, said olefins consisting essentially of from about 60 to about 90 mol percent vinyl olefins, from about 3 to about 30 mol percent vinylidene olefins and from about 3 to about 12 mol percent internal olefins.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of C olefins to C olefins used is from about 4.0/1 to about 3/2.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of C olefins to C olefins used is from about 3.5/1 to about 2/1.

4. A composition of matter consisting essentially of the water soluble alkali or alkaline earth metal salts produced by saponifying with an alkali or alkaline earth metal hydroxide, oxide or carbonate the product of the reaction of uncomplexed $0 with olefins consisting essentially of olefins having 14 and 16 carbon atoms per molecule and averaging from about 14.1 to about 15.9 carbon atoms per molecule wherein the weight ratio of C olefins to C olefins is from about 5.7/1 to about 1/2, said olefins having 14 carbon atoms per molecule consisting essentially of from about 80 to about 90 mol percent vinyl olefins, from about 5 to about 12 mol percent vinylidene olefins and from about 5 to about 12 mol percent internal olefins, said olefins having 16 carbon atoms per molecule consisting essentially of from about 60 to about 70 mol percent vinyl olefins, from about 20 to about mol percent vinylidene olefins and from about 5 to about 12 mol percent internal olefins.

5. The composition of claim 4 wherein the weight ratio of C olefins to C olefins used is from about 4.0/1 to about 3/2.

6. The composition of claim 4 wherein the weight ratio of C olefins to C olefins used is from about 3.5/1 to about 2/ 1.

7. A composition of matter consisting essentially of the water soluble alkali or alkaline earth metal salts produced by saponifying with an alkali or alkaline earth metal hydroxide, oxide Or carbonate the product of the reaction of uncomplexed S0 with olefins on a weight percent basis having about 0.4 percent dodecenes, about 66.2 percent tetradecenes and about 33.4 percent hexadecenes, said olefins consisting essentially of about 79.2 mol percent vinyl olefins, about 12.5 mol percent vinylidene olefins and about 8.3 mol percent internal olefins.

8. A composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the water soluble salts are salts of sodium or potassium.

9. A composition in accordance with claim 2 wherein the water soluble salts are salts of sodium or potassium.

10. A composition in accordance with claim 3 wherein the water soluble salts are salts of sodium or potassium.

11. A composition in accordance with claim 4 wherein Y the water soluble salts are salts of sodium or potassium. 12. A composition in accordance with claim 5 wherein the water soluble salts are salts of sodium or potassium. 13. A composition in accordance with claim 6 wherein the water soluble salts are salts of sodium or potassium. 14. A composition in accordance with claim 7 wherein the water soluble salts are salts of sodium or potassium.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,708,437 1/1973 Sweeney 252555 3,544,475 1/1970 Tomiyama et al. 252161 3,444,087 5/ 1969 Eccles et a1. 252138 3,492,239 1/1970 Baumann et a1. 252161 3,332,874 7/1967 Coward et al. 252137 CARL D. QUARFORTH, Primary Examiner R. L. TATE, Assistant Examiner Us. 01. X.R. 252 121, 536; 260-513 R 

